Photo: Sun News Publishing

More Stories on This Section

Nigeria and Argentina will settle scores tomorrow inside the main bowl of the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, in an epic final of the men’s football event at the 29th Olympiad, which ends tomorrow.

It would be the third time both nations will clash in the final at different international soccer events. Tomorrow’s fixture, which some analysts have tagged the ‘Battle of Beijing’, evokes memories of the Atlanta ’96 Olympic men’s football event final showdown involving Nigeria and Argentina, which ended 3–2 in favour of the then Nigeria’s Dream Team I.

Argentina would, however, avenge the defeat nine years later at the FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) in Holland, precisely in 2005, when their national Under-20 team inspired by Barcelona of Spain striker, Lionel Messi, beat the Flying Eagles 2–1 in the final of the championship to lift the trophy.

Aside from the age-group championships, Nigeria and Argentina had met twice at the senior level of FIFA World Cup, with victory going the way of the South Americans on both occasions.
At the USA’94 World Cup, it ended 2–1 in favour of the Argentines, with the legendary Diego Armanda Maradona and Claudio Caniggia scoring for the South Americans.
It was ‘Angel’ Gabriel Batistuta’s crucial lone goal that separated Argentina and Nigeria in the opening group match at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup finals.

Grudge is, therefore the watchword, as both nations’ Under-23 teams file out for tomorrow’s Olympic soccer final. Dream Team IV, largely made up of the Flying Eagles’ squad that lost to their Argentine counterparts at the 2005 WYC in Holland, have not only vowed to avenged that defeat today, but also to re-enact the Atlanta ’96 Olympic feat of their predecessors, the Dream Team I, by beating the Argentines again in an Olympic soccer final.

For the Argentines, there can never be a better and brighter opportunity to avenge the Atlanta ’96 Olympic loss to Nigeria than the one presented by tomorrow’s epic final at the Beijing Olympics. Therefore to say that the encounter promises to be explosive is to make an understatement considering the stakes it raises for both nations.

For Nigeria, whose contingent to the 29th Olympiad had yet to win a medal, victory over Argentina would translate to one gold medal, too many. But how far the Dream Team IV would be able to translate their dream into reality tomorrow would depend on how they handle the tricky and highly tactical Argentines. Coach Samson Siasia must, therefore, caution his boys against careless tackles inside Nigeria’s vital area, even as the fear of Messi should be the beginning of wisdom for Nigeria’s defenders.

The Barcelona of Spain talisman found defender Dele Adeleye a weak link in the final of the 2005 WYC in Holland, accounting for the two penalties that gave his side victory in the 2–1 final score line.
Ariel Ortega did the same against Taribo West at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics’ soccer final, but unfortunately for them, the goal from the resultant penalty against Nigeria was not enough to deny the Dream Team I victory as the game eventually ended 3–2 in favour of Nigeria.
The players Siasia’s Dream Team must be weary of tomorrow include Messi and Liverpool of England player, Mascherano, who instigated the expulsion of two Brazilians with his crafty dribbling runs in their Tuesday’s semi-final encounter. Others are striker Angel Agueno and captain Juan Rigueme.

But what the Argentines have in the quartet mentioned above, the Dream Team can boast of in Obinna Nsofor and Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi.
Although the Dream Team may not have gifted players in the mould of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Dan Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke, who were in the Atlanta ’96 squad, the Siasia’s boys, however, have the fighting spirit and determination, which are attributes that have seen them thus far at the Beijing Olympics.
Other players who may make the difference for the Nigerian team tomorrow include Lokomotiv Moscow of Russia and Super Eagles’ attacker, Osaze Odemwingie and attack-conscious defenders, Olubayo Adefemi and Chibuzor Okonkwo, both of who scored in the 4–1 comprehensive defeat of Belgium in Tuesday semi-final.

History, however, favours Nigeria to carry the day in tomorrow’s final clash. It is on record that Nigeria had not lost in any final in the age-group competition staged in Asia. For instance, in 1985, Nigeria’s Under-17 national team led by Nduka Ugbade won the maiden edition of the FIFA Kodak Under-17 Championship.
In 1993, the nation’s Under-17 team christened the Golden Eaglets after their triumph at the maiden edition of the FIFA Championship in China won the tournament for the second time in Japan. The team coached by Fanny Amun and captained by Wilson Oruma, also had Nwankwo Kanu among others.

Only last year, the late Coach Adeyemi Tella guided the Golden Eaglets to Nigeria’s third triumph at the FIFA Under-17 Championship held in South Korea, also in the Asian continent.
Will the Dream Team IV repeat history today in China in Asia in the match that will kick-off at 5.00am Nigerian time? The final whistle will supply the answer.
However, Daily Sunsport charges the Dream Team IV to go for nothing but the Beijing 2008 Olympic gold!